Phil Mickelson helps Tiger Woods into his green jacket at the 2005 Masters, the last victory at Augusta National for Woods. / Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

by Joe Fleming, USA TODAY Sports

by Joe Fleming, USA TODAY Sports

Tiger Woods will win more Masters than Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer combined. That's what Nicklaus said after playing a practice round with Woods in 1995.

Nicklaus' prediction was a tall order - he and Palmer combined for 10 Masters titles - but based on what soon followed, it didn't seem that crazy.

Woods dominated in 1997 as a 21-year-old, then won in 2001-02 and again in '05, securing four green jackets by the age of 29.

Eight years later, Woods is still stuck on four, and Nicklaus might need to demand a recount.

And for Woods, the Masters drought isn't the only one. He has been stuck on 14 majors since the 2008 U.S. Open, and the more important number associated with Nicklaus is his record of 18.

"I still think (Woods) can do it," Nicklaus said recently of the overall majors record. "But that said, he has still got to do it. He hasn't won one in five years. He had better get with it if he's going to."

What happened?

â?¢For one, Phil Mickelson happened. The perennial runner-up broke through in 2004 and leads Woods 3-1 in green jackets in the last nine years.

â?¢The course has changed over the years, certainly. Rough was added, and it was lengthened significantly - the so-called Tiger-proofing. Woods did win after the first couple of major changes but not after the one that came after 2005, 155 yards added to four holes.

â?¢In 2007 and 2008, cold, windy conditions worked against everyone.

â?¢Woods also has struggled with injuries, baggage following his infidelity scandal in 2009, and, perhaps, a lack of confidence.

â?¢He's not as accurate off the tee as he was when he was at his best.

â?¢His putter has not been as reliable.

â?¢He has a new coach and another swing change, which was still evolving as of last year.

â?¢And the talent level around him has never been better. Even for the best player of his generation, the margins at majors are so narrow.

Add all of these together, and you get 0-for-7 at Augusta.

"It's been one of those things where I've been close there so many times on that back nine on Sunday, and I just haven't won," Woods says. "I've been in the mix. I've been right there with just a few holes to go, and it just hasn't happened. Hopefully this year it will be a different story, and I'll put myself there and hopefully have (2012 Masters winner) Bubba (Watson) put the jacket on."

Woods has talked all along about continuing the process of getting his game back to where he wants it to be. He thinks he's getting there. He won three of his first five events this year - the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral and the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.

All three wins came on courses he loves. Like Augusta.

Woods says his game is getting where he wants it to be, and his competition has noticed.

"He's been playing like this for quite some time," says Mickelson, who tied for third at Doral. "He's pretty strong. He's playing at a very high level week in, week out."

Steve Stricker is seeing the same thing.

"His attitude and what I saw this week and his belief in himself again looks very similar to when he was, you know, in the early 2000s, or you can pick any year, I guess, when he was playing great," Stricker said. "He just seems in a better place mentally. He seems to be having fun. And he seems to have a lot of confidence in himself and his game."

Graeme McDowell got an up-close look. He played with Woods in the third and fourth rounds of the Cadillac Championship.

"He's got the ball under control now," McDowell said. "He knows exactly what his golf swing is going to produce. His iron play was stunning. Short game, obviously he putted really well this week. He's just playing very, very well."

One significant adjustment showed up clearly at Doral and Bay Hill: The putting stroke was true. Woods needed 100 putts, a career low, in his 72 holes at Doral; at Bay Hill he made 12 putts between10 and 20 feet and needed only 110 putts overall.

Woods credited the improvement to a bit of advice he got from Stricker on the putting green on the eve of the Cadillac Championship.

"Whatever he says, I'm going to do. He's one of the best putters that has ever lived," said Woods, acknowledging Stricker helped him with his posture. "He can see the things that are off a little bit, because he knows my stroke so well. Did it help me? Yes, it did."

Stricker on his tips: "He was talking a little that a couple of putts were bothering him, and you know, I always hate to interject anything with him. But he was open to it, and you know, you don't want to screw a guy up, either. But when I left him, he was really excited and it looked like he was rolling it really good then. So you know, but you never know. You could hurt the guy, giving him a tip or two, or you could help him out."

Woods just wants to continue the process of improving. His confidence jumped last year when he won at Bay Hill, Muirfield Village and Congressional. Now with his three wins this year, his confidence is soaring.

"I felt that toward the end of last year, that I was heading in the direction where things were becoming better," Woods said.

"My short game, game-wise, came around. I thought my swing was getting better. My short irons got better," Woods added. "Lo and behold, I won a few tournaments this year."